Dispenser with frictionally interfitting parts in which a closure member is rotatable about an axis



May 8, 1956 JACOBS Er AL 2,744,666

DISPENSER WITH FRICTIONALLY INTERFITTING PARTS IN WHICH A CLOSURE MEIBER IS ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS Filed May 28, 1952 I5 SheetsSheet 1 FIG.2.

IN V EN TORS WILL JOSE ATTORNEYS May 8, 1956 w. JACOBS Er AL 2,744,666

DISPENSER WITH FRICTIQNALLY INTERFITTING PARTS IN WHICH CLOSUR IS EMEMBER ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS Filed May 28, l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS.

IN VEN TORS WILL/4M e03I 3 ATTOQNE75 JOSEPH DARLING W. JACOBS ET AL May8, 1956 2,744,666

DISPENSER WITH FRICTIONALLY INTERFITTING PARTS IN WHICH A CLOSURE MEMBERIS ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS Filed May 28, 1952 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTORS W/LL/AM \laccss d ss fi s. ME V6 -r'roANEAS United StatesPatent DISPENSER WITH F RIQTIONALLY INTERFITTIN G PARTS IN WHICH ACLOSURE MEMBER IS R0- TATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS William Jacobs and Joseph S.Darling, New York, N. Y.

Application May 28, 1952, Serial No. 290,488

7 Claims. (Cl. 222545) This invention relates to an improved combinedcontainer and dispenser, in, which the closure member is adapted to berotated about an axis which is transverse to the axis of the container,in order to dispense the contents thereof. 7

In one embodiment, the dispenser comprises a container portion whoseupper face has a rectangular opening. An intermediate top piece isprovided, said top piece being adapted to be force-fitted into theopening of the container portion. This top piece is in the form of ahollow cylinder whose axis extends laterally with respect to the axis ofthe container, said top piece being cut away at its upper portion andhaving an opening in its bottom portion which communicates with thecontainer portion. There is also provided a closure member which issubstantially in the form of a solid cylinder and which is adapted to beforce-fitted into the interior of the top piece.

. This closure piece is turnable about the axis of the top piece and isprovided with a radially extending finger piece for such turning. Theclosure piece has one or more through-and-through diametrical openingswhich.

Fig. 6'is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing modified shapes of theclosure piece and the top piece.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section, partly broken away, of the containerportion of a second embodiment of my dispenser, prior to bending overthe lips of said container portion.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section of the assembled dispenser accordingto my second embodiment and Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section,partly in elevation thereof.

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section of a third embodiment of theinvention, and Fig. 11 is a section on line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Upon reference to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that Fig. 1shows a first embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, container10 is preferably made of a rigidmaterial, such as metal. The sides andbottom of container 10 are conventional, and are therefore broken away.The top 11 of container 10 is substantially planar and has a rectangularopening 12 therein.

Top piece 13 is adapted to be interfitted with top wall 11; Top piece 13may be molded in one piece from any suitable material. Optionally andpreferably, the material used is polyethylene plastic, which issufficiently resilient to be force-fitted with container 10 and withclosure piece 14. Said top piece 13 is in the general shape of a hollowpart-cylinder, of a greater size than a semi-cylinder.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, piece 13 has a groove 15 whichextends around the outside of the entirepiece. This groove 15 extendsacross an end face '16 of piece 13, then along one side of theperipheral wall 17 of piece 13, then along the other end face 16, and

communicate with the container portion in one turned 7 position of theclosure piece, and which are out of communication with the containerportion in another turned position of the closure piece.

The above construction is economical to manufacture, since it requiresonly three parts which may be forcefitted together, or elsefittedtogether by other simple operation, without the use of connectingmembers. I

In another embodiment of the invention, the top piece is integral withthe container portion.v This construction may be of particular value ifthe container portion is a collapsible tube or is made of a flexibleplastic such as polyethylene.

It will be apparent that this improved dispenser is suitable for use indispensing powder, pastes and liquids. The use of a screw cap iseliminated, and the closure piece may be easily manipulated by thefingers of the user. Furthermore, the closure piece has clearly definedopening and closing positions, which eliminate the need for visualinspection to determine whetherthe dispenser is completely closed. 1

Other objects and advantages of this invention will then back to itsstarting point along the other side of peripheral wall 17.

Piece 13 is provided with a continuous external flange 18 above saidgroove 15, said flange 18 having=a laterally extending lower face 19which is co-extensive with the upper face of groove 15. The lower face20 of groove 15 serves as a shoulder.

As is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, top piece 13 may be interfitted withcontainer 10, with the bottom portion of piece 13 extending through theopening 12 of top wall 11, and with the peripheraledge of said opening12 positioned within groove 15. Flange face 19 abuts the upper face oftop wall 11, and shoulder 20 abuts the lower face of top Wall 11. Sincepiece 13 is made of a somewhat resilient piece, and since the peripheral.wall 17 is convex, piece 13 may be simply forced downwardly intocontainer 10 until top wall 11 is snapped between flange face 19 andshoulder 20;

The interior space of top piece 13 is substantially in the form of apart-cylinder, with its axis extending laterally with respect to theaxis of container 10. The upbecome apparent from the followingdescription, in con junction with the annexed drawing in which preferredembodiments are disclosed.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of my improvedcontainer and dispenser, said parts comprising a container portion(partly broken away), a top piece and a closure piece.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the top piece.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the assembled dispenser, with theclosure piece in dispensing position.

Fig. 4 is'a view similar to Fig. 3, with the closure piece in closingposition.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the assembled dispenser..

per part of piece 13 is cutaway so that in vertical crosssection itsinterior Wall is substantially the major arc of a circle.

Said top piece 13 has a hole 21 in its base, said hole 21 being inregistration with hole 12 and extending in the direction of the axis ofpiece 13.

Closure piece 14 is substantially in the shape of a cylinder. Said piece14 is preferably made of a resilient plastic material, such aspolyethylene, to insure a close force-fit with piece 13. Piece 14 has afinger piece 22 which preferably extends along its entire length andalso radially outwardly. Finger piece 22 is preferably integral withclosure piece 14. I

Closure piece 14 is preferably solid, except that it preferably has aplurality of axially-spaced, diametrically extending,through-and-through openings 23. The axis of hole 23 is preferablyinclined at an angle other than a right angle to the radial direction offinger piece 22.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, closure piece 14 Patented May 8,1956 I may be force-fitted within the interior space of toppiece 13.with the axes of said pieces in alignment. Piece 14 substantially fillsthe interior volume of piece 13. and finger piece 22 extends above theupper opening of piece 13 14 is turned until finger piece 22 abuts theother side edge 23- 25 of top piece 13, in which position said openingsextend substantially horizontally. it is therefore p1 crable that theinner side wall of top piece 13 correspond. in vertical cross-section tothree fourths of the arc of a circle.

Fig. 6 shows a modified construction to ensure a better frictional fitof the top piece and the closure piece, in case the frictional fitprovided by the molded polyethylene or similar plastic is notsufficient. in this modification, top piece 13:: and closure piece 14!)respectively correspond to top piece 13 and closure piece 14 of Fig. 1,except in their vertical cross-sectional shapes.

in vertical cross-section, the inner wall of top piece 13a correspondsto the major arc of an ellipse whose major axis extends in thelongitudinal direction of the axis of container 10. In said verticalcross-section, the outer wall of closure piece 14a is in the shape of anellipse whose major axis extends laterally in the closing position ofFig. 6. The axes of each piece differ only slightly in length. will beapparent from Fig. 6, the minor axis of piece 14a is slightly shorterthan the major axis of piece 130, the difference in length beingexaggerated in the drawing for the sake of clarity. On the other hand,the major axis of piece 14:: is normally slightly longer than the minoraxis of piece 13a, so that the iartsare frictionaliy held in theposition of Fig. 6. The arts are made of material, such as moldedpolyethylene, which is sufficiently resilient so that the parts may beforced into the position of Fig. 6-.

it will be apparent that when closure piece 14.1 is turned ninetydegrees to its opening position, its major axis will be alined with themajor axis of top piece 13a, and that closure piece 14a turns relativelyfreely in the vicinity of its opening position.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 7-9. Thisembodiment is particularly suitable for a container made out of anelastic or collapsible material. in this embodiment, the container andthe holder for the closure member are preferably integral.

Fig. 7 shows a container 26 in an intermediate stage of construction.The top container wall 27 has a rectangular aperture 28'. The holder 29for the closure member has substantially semi-circular end walls 30which depend from top wall 27 and which are respectively integral withthe respective end edges of aperture 213. Holder 29 also has asemi-cylindrical peripheral wall 31 which depends from top wall 27 andwhose upper edges are respectively integral with the respective sideedges of aperture 23. The end edges of wall 31 are respectively integralwith the respective peripheral edges of end walls 30. Fig. 7 also showsthat top wall 27 has a pair of upstanding flanges 32 which arerespectively integral with the respective side edges of aperture 23 andwhich serve as extensions of wall 31.

Said wall 31 has a rectangular opening 33 in its base. so that theinterior spaces of holder 29 and container 26 are in communication witheach other. The inner face of wall 31 has pairs of spaced grooves 34therein. which are respectively located forwardly and rearwardly ofopening 33. Each groove 34 is located in a plane which is transverse tothe axis of holder 29; Groove 34 extends between the respective upperedges of flanges 32.

Closure member 35 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has pairs ofcircumferential annular ribs 36 which correspond in position and shapeto the respective pairs of grooves 34-. Closure member 35 has a radiallyoutwardly extending finger piece 37 positioned between the pairs of ribs36. Closure member 35 also has a through and-through diametrical opening38 whose axis is inclined at an acute angle to the radial direction offinger piece 37. Opening 38 is located between the respective pairs ofribs 36.

in assembly, closure member 35 is first placed within the interior spaceof holder 29 with their axes in alinement, with their respective endfaces abutting each other lrictionally and with the ribs 36 respectivelyslidably positioned in respective grooves 34. in the next step, flanges32 are swedged toward each other (Fig. 8) so that they frictionally abutthe peripheral wall of finger piece 37. in the completed assembly, theinner faces of fiangcs 3?; conform in curvature to the inner face ofwall 31 so that in vertical cross-section, the inner face of holder 29is in the form of a three-quarter arc of a circle.

Closure member 35 is frictionally and turnably held within holder 29,closure member 35 being turnable between the respective positions inwhich finger piece 37 abuts the respective flanges 32. In one of thesepositions, as shown in Fig. 8, hole 38 is alined with hole 33, so thatthe contents of container 26 may be dispensed. When closure member 35 isturned a quarter turn in a counterclockwise direction, finger piece 37abuts flange 32, and hole 38 is out of registration with hole 33,thereby closing the dispenser. In this closed position, the interfittingribs 36 and grooves 34 tend to prevent leakage of the contents of thedispenser.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. In thisembodiment, 21 preferably glass container 40 with a snap-on cover 41 isemployed. Container 40 has a cylindrical side wall with an outwardlyextending peripheral flange 42 at its upper end. Cover 41 is disk-shapedand has a depending peripheral flange 43 which is turned inwardly at itslower portion 44.

Cover 41 may be made of a molded, resilient plastic and may be snappedonto container 40 with flange 42 positioned between cover 41 and flangeportion 44. This is clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Cover 41 has a rectangular aperture. The holder 45 for the closuremember is integral with cover 41. Holder 45 has end walls 30acorresponding to end walls 30 of Fig. 7 and a peripheral wall 31a, 32acorresponding to and formed in the same manner as peripheral wall 31, 32of Fig. 8, except for the omission of any grooves. Slot 33a correspondsto slot 33.

Closure member 46 is substantially the same as closure member 14 of thefirst embodiment, except that finger piece 47 extends along only aportion of the length of said closure member 46.

It will be apparent that a number of the features of the threeembodiments and of the modification of Fig. 6 may be interchanged. Thusit is preferable to have a plurality of holes 23 in closure member 14when powder is to be dispensed. However, holes 23 may be replaced by asingle hole such as 38 when liquid is to be dispensed.

Optionally, also, ribs and grooves such as ribs 36 and grooves 34 may beutilized in the embodiment of Fig. 1. The ribs and grooves may beomitted in the embodiment of Fig. 7. Optionally, this embodiment may beconstructed in accordance with the modification of Fig. 6.

The third embodiment essentially incorporates the holder of the secondembodiment and the closure member of the first embodiment on a snap-oncover. Optionally, also, this embodiment may be modified byinterchanging other features of the preceding embodiments.

In any embodiment or modification, the construction of the top piece andof the closure member is intended to be such as to minimize leakage ofthe contents of the dispenser. It is believed that when these parts aremade of material such as previously described, and when constructionfeatures such as the interfitting shapes of Figs. 1 and 6 or the ribsand grooves of Fig. 9 are employed, it is unnecessary to use washers orother additional means to prevent leakage. However, the inventionpermits the use of washers or the like if desired.

It will be apparent that this invention makes it possible to manufacturean effective dispenser entirely out of plastic. Thus if container 10 ismolded in one piece, it is difiicult to apply a conventional dispensingcap thereto. However, the resilient plastic top piece 13 and closuremember 14 may be readily interfitted with con tainer 10. The embodimentof Fig. 7 is particularly useful if container 26 is collapsible andcontains a paste. Then when closure member 35 is assembled with thedispenser, the rings 36 serve as gaskets to prevent the extrusion of thepaste, except through hole 38. The embodiment of Fig. 10 is particularlyuseful when it is desired to dispense powder from a glass container.Thus, this embodiment enables the use of a glass salt or pepper shakerwithout the use of a metal top.

Preferred embodiments of the invention, together with various changes,omissions and additions therein, have been disclosed. It will beapparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be madewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser comprising a hollow container which has a top, said topincluding a unitary block-like portion which is somewhat compressibleand bendable and which is resilient, said block-like portion having acavity which has a concave longitudinal wall and transverse, planar endwalls and which is open at its top, said concave wall having an openingin its bottom portion which communicates with the interior space of saidcontainer, and a unitary dispensing member, said dispensing member beingsomewhat compressible and being resilient and having a radiallyoutwardly extending finger piece, said dispensing member beingpositioned within and in axial alinement with said cavity with saidfinger piece extending through the top opening of said cavity, with saidend faces respectively frictionally and turnably abutting the respectiveend walls and with said peripheral face frictionally and turnablyabutting said concave wall, said dispensing member having athrough-and-through diametrical opening, said dispensing member openingextending between and communicating with the bottom opening in saidconcave wall and the top opening therein when said finger piece abuts afirst side of said top opening therein, said dispensing member openingbeing out of communication with said bottom opening of said concave wallwhen said finger piece abuts the second side of said top openingtherein, said cavity in transverse cross-section being generally in theshape of a major arc of an oval whose major axis extends between saidbottom opening of said concave wall and said top opening therein, saiddispensing member being in transverse cross-section generally in theshape of an oval whose major axis is substantially alined with the minoraxis of said cavity when said finger piece is in its second-mentionedposition, said major axis of said dispensing member being slightlylonger than said minor axis of said cavity, whereby said dispensingmember is frictionally and compressibly and resiliently and releasablyheld in its position in which said finger piece is in thesecond-mentioned position thereof, the major and minor axes of saiddispensing member being at least as small respectively as the major andminor axes of the cavity, so as to permit said dispensing member to bemoved freely to its position in which said finger piece is in itsfirst-mentioned position.

2. A dispenser comprising a hollow container which has a top, said topincluding a unitary block-like portion which is somewhat compressibleand bendable and which is resilient, said block-like portion having acavity which has a concave longitudinal wall and transverse, planar endwalls and which is open at its top, said concave wall having an openingin its bottom portion which communicates with the interior space of saidcontainer, and a unitary dispensing member, said dispensing member beingsomewhat compressible and being resilient and having a radiallyoutwardly extending finger piece, said dispensing member beingpositioned within and in axial 1 alinement with said cavity with saidfinger piece extending through the top opening of said cavity, with saidend faces respectively frictionally and turnably abutting the respectiveend walls and with said peripheral face frictionally and turnablyabutting said concave wall, said dispensing member having athrough-and-through diametrical opening, said dispensing member openingextending between and communicating with the bottom opening in saidconcave wall and the top opening therein when said finger piece abuts afirst side of said top opening therein, said dispensing member openingbeing out of communication with said bottom opening of said concave wallwhen said finger piece abuts the second side of said top openingtherein, said cavity in transverse crosssection being substantially inthe shape of a major arc of an ellipse whose major axis extends betweensaid opening in the base of said concave wall and said top openingtherein, said dispensing member being in transverse cross-sectionsubstantially in the shape of an ellipse whose major axis issubstantially alined with the minor axis of said cavity when said fingerpiece abuts said other side of said top opening in said concave wall,said major axis of said dispensing member being slightly longer thansaid minor axis of said cavity, whereby said dispensing member isfrictionally and compressibly and resiliently and releasably held in itsposition in which said finger piece abuts said other side of said topopening in said concave wall.

3. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1, in which the top of saidcontainer is substantially planar and has a longitudinal opening withinwhich said block-like portion is adapted to be frictionally interfitted,said blocklike portion having a circumferential groove in which the edgezone of said upper wall around said opening therein is adapted to belocated by snapping said edge zone into said groove.

4. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1, in which said cavity hastransverse grooves in the concave wall thereof which are respectivelyspaced forwardly and rearwardly of the openings in the closure memberand in the base of said concave wall, said dispensing memberhavingannular ribs on the peripheral wall thereof which respectivelyride turnably and frictionally in the respective grooves.

5. A dispenser in accordance with claim 2, in which the top of saidcontainer is substantially planar and has a longitudinal opening withinwhich said block-like portion is adapted to be frictionally interfitted,said blocklike portion having a circumferential groove in which the edgezone of said upper wall around said opening therein is adapted to belocated by snapping said edge zone into said groove.

6. A dispenser in accordance with claim 2, in which said cavity hastransverse grooves in the concave wall thereof which are respectivelyspaced forwardly and rearwardly of the openings in the closure memberand in the base of said concave wall, said dispensing member havingannular ribs on the peripheral wall thereof which respectively rideturnably and frictionally in the respective grooves.

7. A dispenser comprising a hollow container which has a top, said topincluding a unitary block-like portion which is somewhat compressibleand bendable and which is resilient, said block-like portion having acavity which has a concave longitudinal wall and transverse, planar end7 wallsand which is open at its top, said concave wall having an openingin its bottom portion which communicates with the interior space ofsaidcontainer, and a unitary dispensing member, said dispensingmernberbeing.

somewhat compressible and being resilient and having a radiallyoutwardly extending finger piece, said dispensing member beingpositioned withinand in axial alinement with said cavity with saidfinger piece extending, through the top opening of said cavity, withsaid end faces respectively frictionally and turnably abutting therespective end walls and with said peripheral face frictionally andturnably abutting said concave wall, said dispensingmemher having athr0ugh-and-through diametrical opening, said dispensing member openingextending between and communicating with the bottom opening, in saidconcave wall and the top opening therein when said finger piece abuts afirst side of said top opening; therein, said dispensing member openingbeingout of communication with said bottom opening of said concave wallwhen said finger piece abuts the second side of said top openingtherein, said cavity having transverse grooves in the concave wallthereof which are respectively spaced forwardly and rearwardly of theopenings in the closure member and in the base of said concave wall,said dispensing memher having annular ribson the peripheral wall thereofwhich respectively ride turnably and frictionally in the respectivegrooves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,967,797 White July 24, 1934 2,014,066 Flagg Sept. 10, 1935 2,271,349Saurer J an. 27, 1942 2,316,516 Hammerstein Apr. 13, 1943 2,573,378Zurlinden Oct. 30, 1951 2,601,039 Livingstone June 17, 1952 FOREIGNPATENTS 625,799 Great Britain July 4, 1949

